WCSS logo

Wrocław Centre for
Networking and Supercomputing

About WCSS

Wrocław Centre for Networking and Supercomputing (Wrocławskie Centrum Sieciowo-Superkomputerowe – WCSS) is a unit of Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST) and acts as its technological partner to the benefit of the academic environment.
The duties of the Centre include developing and maintaining the computing and service infrastructure as well as of scientific applications, conducting research and development works within the above area, developing and maintaining the Wrocław Academic Computer Network (Wrocławska Akademicka Sieć Komputerowa – WASK), and also providing ICT security to the cooperating organizations.

WCSS performs research and development works for the region, country and Europe. These works are carried out in areas related to the development of computer networks, data storage systems, grid infrastructures and HPC (High Performance Computing), including aspects related to the safety of these infrastructures, as well as researching new technologies and optimizing scientific applications. 

The Centre also provides services related to the security of IT systems. It participates in the PIONIER CERT and EGI-CSIRT projects. The computing resources and technological solutions of WCSS are part of Polish and European research infrastructures, incl. PIONIER, EGI, E-SCIENCE.PL, KMD, GÉANT and PRACE.

The unit also carries out a number of trainings in the field of its basic activity. WCSS offers its services to universities, research institutes, state institutions and other public and private entities.

WCSS IN NUMBERS

25+ years of operation
157 companies we have work with
83 projects completed
70 employees

Regulations

WCSS regulations

Leadership and structure

DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR
prof. Tadeusz
Więckowski,
PhD, DSc, Eng.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Agnieszka
Szymańska-Kwiecień,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 39 21
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Mateusz
Tykierko,
PhD, Eng.
71 320 20 32

ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC SECTION

MANAGER
Elżbieta
Sadowska
71 320 20 18
Agnieszka
Kisiel,
Eng.
71 320 39 21
71 320 21 07
Monika
Kozera,
MA
71 320 39 21
71 320 39 67
Monika
Leszczyńska,
MA
71 320 20 33
Katarzyna
Stankiewicz,
MA
71 320 39 21
71 320 39 67
Agata
Wołodkiewicz,
MA
71 320 39 21
71 320 39 67

NETWORK SERVICES DEPARTMENT

MANAGER
Dorota
Sadowska,
Eng.
71 320 36 26
71 320 20 14
Rashad
Al-Yawir,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 30 43
Marcin
Bzdulski,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 30 43
Arletta
Deniusz-Janik,
MSc, Eng.
tel. 71 320 30 43
Piotr
Dróżdż
71 320 20 14
Łukasz
Roznerski,
Eng.
71 320 30 43

NETWORK MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT

MANAGER
Damian
Wydymus,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 80
Waldemar
Dymkiewicz
71 320 24 92
Łukasz
Janus
71 320 25 20
Sebastian
Kozera
71 320 25 53
Andrzej
Michalski
71 320 24 92
Krzysztof
Michalski,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 39 85

COMPUTING SERVICES DEPARTMENT

MANAGER
Mateusz
Tykierko,
PhD, Eng.
71 320 20 32
Aleksandra
Bączyńska,
Eng.
71 320 47 45
Patryk
Bełzak
71 320 37 39
Magdalena
Dulęba,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 37 39
Tomasz
Durda
71 320 37 39
Agata
Grzelińska,
MA, WIT
Mateusz
Jędrzejewski,
MSc, Eng.
Mateusz
Kozera
71 320 47 35
Krzysztof
Lenio,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 31
Magdalena
Lisowska,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 47 45
Urszula
Lukierska,
BA
71 320 20 31
Adrian
Małecki
Hubert
Mazur,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 37 39
Sylwia
Mech,
PhD, Eng.
71 320 20 43
Marcin
Miłek,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 37 39
Wiktor
Nastał,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 37 39
Sebastian
Sitkiewicz
PhD, Eng.
71 320 47 35
Daniel
Szulc,
MSc, Eng.
Anton
Tustanowski
Rafał
Włodarczyk
Konrad
Wyglądacz
71 320 47 35
Kamil
Żyta
71 320 47 35

INFORMATION SECURITY TEAM

MANAGER
Leszek
Klimowicz,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 79
Bartłomiej
Balcerek,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 79
Łukasz
Ferenc,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 13
Marcin
Kaczmarek,
MSc, Eng., CISA
71 320 20 79
Adrian
Kajzer,
Eng.
71 320 20 13
Paweł
Kępa,
Eng.
71 320 20 13
Yuri
Melnik,
Eng.
71 340 79 43
Łukasz
Strugarek
71 320 20 13
Jakub
Utko
71 340 79 43

PROJECT MAINTENANCE TEAM

MANAGER
Mariusz
Uchroński,
PhD, DSc, Eng., WUST prof.
71 320 24 56
Adam
Bachera,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 34
Miłosz
Białczak,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 43
Mateusz
Bolek
71 320 20 43
Monika
Długosz,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 43
Bartosz
Karpiński,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 43
Dobrosław
Kowalski,
MSc, Eng.
71 320 20 43
Mateusz
Leś
71 320 20 43
Dominik
Nikrewicz,
Eng.
71 320 20 43
Maciej
Olejnik,
Eng.
71 320 20 43
Stefan
Piróg,
Eng.
71 320 20 43
Marek
Rybak,
BA
71 320 20 43
Olga
Schabowicz-Drzewińska,
MA
71 320 20 43
Justyna
Wojciechowska,
MA
71 320 36 26

History and development

Wrocław Centre for Networking and Supercomputing was established in 1994. It was launched by the then Rector of Wrocław University of Science and Technology on the basis of an agreement between Wrocław universities and research institutions regarding the construction of the Wrocław Academic Computer Network (WASK) and of High-Performance Computers (Komputery Dużej Mocy – KDM). Its operation as an independent unit started on July 1, 1995.

The main tasks of the new institution were the operation and development of WASK and KDM, which are the foundations of the modern IT infrastructure for Polish science. The majority of the then staff was a group of people who operated the so-called general university resources at the WUST IT Centre, and earlier the WUST Computing Centre, which was established in 1972.

In December 1995, WCSS commissioned the first IBM SP2 supercomputer, which was included in the TOP 500 list in 1996. The Centre also developed the first e-mail system for Wrocław University of Science and Technology, which is still in use today, regularly developed and provided with new functionalities. Over time, the unit also started providing services to external clients, offering its network services to Wrocław public entities.

A breakthrough in the activity of the Centre was the commissioning of a new server room, which is constantly being expanded and accommodates clusters of enormous computing power. They allow the analyzing and modeling of big data sets, e.g. in the field of astrochemistry, medicine, mechanics and solid state physics. The power of the supercomputers in the Centre also makes it possible to simulate processes that would be impossible to perform in a laboratory.

WCSS has become the operator of the WASK network, which now allows access to the national PIONIER network, the European GÉANT2 and the global Internet, and has connection points with many telecom operators.

After establishing the Information Security Team, the WCSS agenda developed to include activities extremely important in the modern IT world. As a result, the clients of the Centre receive support in securing their IT systems and assistance in coping with the increasing number of threats in cyberspace. 

On the other hand, the establishment of the Project Maintenance Team facilitated the research activity of the unit. Currently, the Centre implements projects financed, among others, from the following funds: the Horizon 2020 program, the Intelligent Development Operational Program, the Digital Poland Operational Program, the National Center for Research and Development, the European Commission.

Milestones

Development of projects contributing to the construction of a European system of exascale-class supercomputers.

2022
2021 June

Launch of the Bem 2 cluster having 2.2 PFLOP computing power.

Development of the AZON information system enabling science resources to be digitally shared in an open manner and meeting the WCAG2.0 and 5*Open Data accessibility criteria.

2019
2017

The Bem cluster is listed 205th in the TOP500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers.

Development of the e-science.pl platform for science.

2016
2015

Tenfold increase in computing power owing to the launch of the BEM Cluster, the WASK network reaches the speed of 100 Gbit/s.

Commissioning of new server rooms and offices in the Bibliotech building.

2014
2011 June

The Supernova cluster listed 194th in the TOP500 list.

WCSS supercomputer – the Supernova cluster (HP) listed 372th in the TOP500 list.

2010 November
2010 July

Design of a new WCSS server room having the area of over 1000 m2 – constructed between 2011 and 2013.

First operation of the WASK network backbone (MPLS) having a 10 Gb/s capacity.

2009
2008 June

WCSS supercomputer – the Nova cluster (Action) listed 318th in the TOP500 list.

First operation of the WASK backbone (GbEthernet) having a 1 Gb/s capacity.

2004
2003

First operation of an integrated e-mail system for WUST students.

First operation of an integrated e-mail system for WUST employees (Sun Fire v880 + Solaris/Sun-One operating system).

2002
1995 November

WCSS supercomputer – SP2 (IBM) listed 482nd in the TOP500 list.

WCSS is launched.

1995